Tool box for hexagonal socket wrenches



Oct. 3, 1933. c. E. L|TTLE 1,929,072

TOOL BOX FOR HEXAGONAL SOCKET WRENCHES Filed May 14, 1952 PLUG '/8 A Invent?) 8 4 Mam Patented Oct. 3, 1933 TOOL BOX. FOR HEXAGONA L SOCKET WRENCHES Charles E. Little, Melrose, Mass.

Application May 14, 1932. Serial No. 611,377

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to an improved box or container for a plurality of hexagonal socket wrenches, or the like, and is a division in part of my prior and copending application Ser.

5 No. 489,345, filed October 1'7, 1930.

As stated in my prior application, the object of my invention is to construct a box-like container to hold a plurality of hexagonal socket Wrenches of varying lengths and sizes, with brackets holding the wrenches provided with grooves or notches of various sizes to correspond correctly to the diameters of the several wrenches, and said brackets being so positioned as to leave sufilcient space for a reference chart or table explaining the size of sockets with which the wrenches contained in the box cooperate. The grooves in said brackets are stepped or graduated so that the top of each wrench will be the same height from the bottom of the box and thus bear against thecover of the box substantially equally.

In order to produce said improved container as cheaply as possible, I have devised the novel process of forming the braces and brackets integral with the box or container itself, and it is this feature particularly that I wish to cover in this application.

In carrying'out my invention, I stamp out blanks of the desired size and then draw upthe sides to form a box-like container. I then pierce in the right place on the bottom of this container the desired outlines of braces and brackets and then bend them to a vertical position, thereby forming brackets and braces of the desired pattern.

Thus, I am enabled, without destroying the utility of the box, toform, out of a single blank, the entire structure of my invention comprising the container itself, the braces, and the brackets.

7 Referring to the drawing, wherein I show a preferred embodiment of myinvention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved box with the cover attached;

Fig.2 is a plan view of the bottom portion of the container, with the top removed and box nesting in same;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 2. I

In the drawing, I form my box or container, preferably of sheet metal, having vertical sides 2, 2, and horizontal bottom portion 3. Suitably positioned in said bottom portion 3 and integral therewith are vertical racks or brackets land 5,

on the line 3 3 and braces 6 and '7, formed by piercing the desired outlines in the horizontal bottom 3, and thereupon bending them up to a position vertical to said bottom 3.

Said racks 4 and 5 are provided with a plurality of hexagonal grooves 8, 8 of varying sized diameters to receive corresponding hexagonal,

wrenches 9, 9. Said grooves 8, 8 are in size, form, and depth as to cause the top edges so fashioned of all the wrenches 9, 9 of whatever diameter to be of equal height and in the same horizontal plane, and so spaced in the bottom of the box as to cause both the heads and handles of said wrenches 9, 9 to be snugly stored together, the

rack 5 being so spaced in the botto m 3 to allow the heads of the wrenches 9, 9 to be properly nested.

suitable support therefor, whereas merely acts as a guide, and only the brace 6 contacts the wrench 13 at one end, the other end being removed to permit easier removal of said wrench 13 by the operator. Said support 14 is of sufficient depth so that the top of said wrench 13 is of the same height as those of said other wrenches 9, 9.

The racks 4 and 5, and braces 6 and 7 are so positioned in the bottom'3 as to allow sufiicient space for a reference chart 10, such as shown in Fig. 2, this chart 10 providing data explaining the size socket with which to use the varying sized wrenches 9, 9.

The wrenches 9, 9 are further identified by providing identifications 15, 15 in the bottom portion 3 adjacent the ends of said wrenches 9, 9 designating their various diameters.

This reference chart 10 and wrench identifications 15 will be found to be of invaluable help to the use of this device.

I also provide a cover 11, which cooperates with mycontainer both as a lid and as a tray, and which, when in position as a lid, as shown in Fig. 1, presses against the tops of the wrenches 9, 9 thus tending to both'retain said wrenches 9, 9

. snugly within the racks 4 and 5 and braces 6 and '7, and to clamp tightly over the sides 2, 2. If desired, I may utilize a rubber band 12 which may'assis't in keeping the cover 11 when the box is in use and the box in place, or, nested in the cover, this band may be utilized to hold the various wrenchesQ, 9 and cover 11 in place so that in case the box is tipped, the wren fall out.

ches will not said racks having a plurality of varying recesses formed therein to retain correspondingly sized wrenches so that thetop surfaces of said wrenches lie in the same plane, and being so positioned to 'nest the said Wrenches in said container, the

vertical braces being positioned relatively with the sides of said container to form a space to receive a large sized wrench and hold same so that its top surface lies in the same plane as that of the nested wrenches.-

i CHARLES E. LITTLE. 

